placement

[sociology27]

I applied to a good amount of schools in the 20s and 30s because of fit... but I've been wondering recently how good of placement I can expect if I go there. I'm not looking for ivy league placement or anything, but is it fair to say that going to a school ranked in the 20s/30s will still give me a good chance at a placement at a PhD granting institution? Or will going to someplace ranked near 30 make it very difficult to get place anywhere in, let's say, the top 60? Thoughts? Similar concerns?

[ThisSlumgullionIsSoVapid]

I think you would find this post on orgtheory pretty relevant to your question. http://orgtheory.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/low-status-graduate-students/

Although I wouldn't necessarily say that 20s and 30s is "low status". There are some professors whom I am applying to work with (in my lower ranked schools) that graduated in the mid 2000's from 20th ranked universities. The universities they placed at are around 50-60, so, assuming you get into something around the 20's and 30's I don't think you're going to end up at a community college or something. You can probably still get into a ranked university.

I'm in the same predicament. Out of 15 schools I'm applying to 8 are top 20 (princeton, univ of chicago, penn, nyu, utexas-austin, penn state, yale, univ of washington, seattle). 3 are top 40 (ucr, ucsd, uci). and 4 are 40-60 ranked (purdue, boston u, notre dame, uc boulder)

[sociology27]

Yeah, I guess I'm not really sure about the vague label they throw out there... are they really saying anything outside the top 20 is low status?

Like you, I'm applying to three tiers... 5 in the top 20, 5 in the 20-40 range and 2 in the 40-60 range. I know I'll be set (as much as one can be) if I get into any of the first tier, and I know I'll be in trouble if I'm in any of the third. I'm just kindof lost with the second. Though I don't think I'll be teaching at a community college (which I have no problem with in actuality, and prefer to landing a position in a small, rural liberal arts school), I'm wondering if I can land a job at a large, PhD granting institution. The more I've learned about the selection process the more 1) I'm grossed out by the hypocrisy and 2) I'm thinking I should've applied to more top tier programs. I'll try to hold off the neurosis until I at least hear back from the schools... "try" being the key word.

Thanks for your comments.

[ThisSlumgullionIsSoVapid]

I think you can still end up in a Research 1 university (even if its not a PhD granting one...there are R1 masters granting universities). That's my main goal is to end up in a R1 so that I can pursue research along with teaching and not have to be committed to teaching 4 classes a semester (that would suck).

And yes, hypocritical and ironic is the best way to describe it too I feel. I'm astounded by the recreation of stratification and a brave new world caste like system that is built in the discipline. Even further than just job placements, wait until you start attending professional conferences. I have had my own experience and the way they peruse through people scanning everyones name tags to find who is from prestigious universities is pretty ridiculous. I was introduced to a few people from elite institutions and, without saying names, I can say they were some of the most smug people I've met. Granted, I met them through a proxy but 1) I hardly got a minute of their time even though it was a reception and 2) when they tried to make conversation they talked through the person that introduced me to them rather than to me directly.

I was so turned off by that that I decided not even to apply to one of the universities because of the smuggyness I felt. He was asking the lady that introduced me to him questions about my university, where I went, what my interests were, without just asking me directly. Never made eye contact with me and basically just brushed me off. I felt so disrespected.

Anywho, don't be discouraged completely. Sure, there are some people with gigantic heads and a handful of curmudgeons but I have also met tons of people who are extraordinary. The professors that I have worked with at my university have been astounding and have provided very valuable insight. I won't name my school but it's not a tippy top elite program but it's not the lowest caste either.

Out of curiosity, what schools are you applying to and what are your interests?